SELC Responds to TDOT’s New Proposal for Corridor K

Nashville, TN — Today the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced a new concept for improvements to Highway 64 through the Ocoee River Gorge, also known as Corridor K. Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and its partners have called on TDOT to consider new alternatives to prevent significant impacts to recreational areas and other beloved natural resources.  TDOT proposed today to study two new options that would use tunnels that could avoid impacts to streams, forest habitat and recreation areas that would be caused by other alternatives currently under review. 

Statement from Anne Davis, Managing Attorney at SELC’s Nashville Office:

“We applaud TDOT for thinking outside the box on this controversial project with a promising new idea.  Rather than paving through the natural treasures of the Cherokee National Forest north of the Ocoee River Gorge, this new proposal would tunnel under it and would potentially leave mountain streams, forests and stunning vistas intact. There are a lot of questions yet to answer,  and we look forward to working collaboratively with TDOT to evaluate and refine the proposal.”